Loading machine



July 9, 1963 A. R. BIEDEss 3,096,393

LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 1960 s sheets-sheet 1 July 9, 1963 A. R.BIEDEss 3,096,893

LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR.

Anhony R. Biedess BY ATTORNEY A. R. BIEDESS LOADING MACHINE July 9, 19638 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 24. 1960 "0 INVENTUR.

Anhony R. Biedess Fig. 7

ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 A. R. BIE-DESS 3,096,893

LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

g By nhony R. Biedess M Q 7g2-wmv July 9, 1963 A. R. BIEDEss 3,096,893

LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT OR.

Anhony R. Biedess BY 7' ORA/EV July 9, 1963 A. R. BIEDEss 3,096,893

LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 9, 1963 A. R.Biani-:ss 3,096,893

LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. mfo/yy P.5mn/ess A. R. BIEDESS LOADING MACHINE July 9, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 8Filed Feb. 24, 1960 NN n x S MN T. .e M.. MN. @rml M 'lilla-WJ 1P.IESEFFFWW V NwN W ,m M W A www.

United States Patent Olilce 3,096,893 LOADING MACHINE Anthony R.Biedess, Chicago, III., assigner to Goodman Manufacturing Company,Chicago, III., a corporation f Illinois Filed Feb. 24, 1969, Ser. No.10,715 7 Claims. (CI. 214-30) This invention relates generally tomocking machines for loading rock and the like, operable in tunnels ormines underground where limited head room is available, and moreparticularly rela-tes to improvements in the :boom arrangement andbucket operating mechanism for Such machines.

Mucking machines for loading rock and the like, as known in the art,generally comprise a main frame supported on traction means forpropelling the main frame along the ground, which main frame has aconveyor mechanism extending rearwardly therealong from a position inadvance thereof adjacent the ground and has a digging bucket disposed inadvance of -the forward end of Vthe main frame, which is crowded intothe mined loose material on the ground and lifts and discharges theloose material onto the conveyor.

The digging bucket usually has digging teeth extending in advancethereof and slidable along the ground and crowded into the minedmaterial along the ground to ll the bucket therewith. The bucket is thenlifted upwardly in an angular path toward the conveyor mechanism to dumpits load on the conveyor mechanism, which carries the mined materialalong the machine beyond the rear end of 'the main frame for dumpinginto shuttle cars or other means .for transporting the mined materialfrom the working face.

A problem in the design of such machines is to so design the machine,that it will efficiently operate in places of low headroom and pick upthe relatively heavy rock from the ground and raise and discharge therock onto the conveyor mechanism in a substantially continuous operationwith little or no delay, particularly in picking up the heavy rock Efromthe ground.

It is also advantageous that the maneuvering of the machine and theconveyor mechanism during the crowding and loading operation be reducedto a minimum to facilitate the spotting of shuttle cars or othermaterial transporting means at the discharge end of the conveyormechanism and to provide as continuous a flow of mined material to theshuttle cars or other material carrying means as possible commensuratewith loading and transporting conditions.

ln order to etciently pick up and load the material, it is essentialthat the digging bucket be carried in advance of the forward end of themachine and be so supported that it may readily Slide over smallobstructions on the ground encountered by the digging teeth at theleading edge of the bucket when crowded into the mined material, andthat mechanism for operating the bucket provide a relatively hightearing force for tearing the loaded bucket upwardly through the minedmaterial on top 0f the bucket at a relatively slow rate of speed andthen move the loaded bucket to its discharge position at a higher rateof speed.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide amucking machine for loading rock `and the like arranged Vwith a viewtoward incorporating all of the foregoing advantageous features in themachine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofmucking machine so constructed and arranged as to operate in places ofconfined headroom to elciently tear the loaded digging bucket away fromthe mined material and quickly dump the mined material onto the materialcarrying conveyor of the machine.

3,096,893 Patented July 9, 1963 Still another object of the invention isto provide a bucket operating mechanism for mucking machines of the rockloading type accommodating the bucket to readily follow on even groundand ride over obstructions on the ground as the `bucket is being crowdedinto the loose material being loaded.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bucket operatingmechanism particularly adapted for mucking machines of the rock loadingtype, in which the leverage arrangement of the bucket operatingmechanism is so arranged as to provide a high mechanical advantage forbreaking away t e loaded `bucket `from the loose material being loadedand to reduce the mechanical advantage and increase the speed of travelof the bucket as it moves to a discharge position after it has been tornaway from the material being loaded.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofmucking machine of the rock loading type so arranged as to enable thedischarge end portion of the conveyor mechanism to be maintainedrelatively stationary during the digging and loading of the minedmaterial onto the receiving end of the conveyor mechamsm.

A still `further object of the invention is to provide an improved formof `boom arrangement for a mucking machine of the rock loading type,wherein the boom, operatively carrying a digging and loading bucket atits forward end, may be operated to crowd the bucket into the loosematerial being loaded, while the mucking machine remains in a relativelystationary position on the ground.

This application is a continuation-impart of my application Serial No.737,048, filed May 22, 1958, and now abandoned.

These and other objects of the invention will appear `from time to timeas the following specification proceeds "ind with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a plan view of one embodiment of a mucking machineconstructed according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is ya side elevational view of the machine shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a partial side elevational view of the embodiment shown inFIGURES 1 and 2 with the boom moved forwardly of the machine and withthe bucket in a carrying position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of thestructure shown in FIGURE 3 and taken along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3; f

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial view of the structure shown in FIGURE 3and taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side elevational view partially in cross sectionof a portion of the embodiment of the present invention shown in theprevious figures and with th-e bucket in the dump position;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view showing the bucket moved into a pileof material to be removed;

FIGURE 8 is a circuit diagram showing the hydraulic controls for movingthe boom longitudinally of the machine;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view showing another embodiment of thebucket operating mechanism;

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary View in side elevation of the forward endportion of a modified formgof mocking machine constructed in accordancewith the present invention, in which the machine is mounted on rubbertire mounted traction wheels and the bucket is operated by a modifiedform of bucket operating mechanism;

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary View in side elevation similar to FIGURE l0,but showing the bucket in a discharge position;

FIGURE l2 is a fragmentary plan view looking substantially along line12-12 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 13-13 of FIGURE l0;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 14--14 of FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE l5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view lookingsubstantially along line 1515 of FIGURE l0.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIP- URES l to 8 ofthe drawings, continuous traction tread devices or crawler trackmechanisms 10 are shown as being provided to support and advance themachine during the loading operation and to propel the machine fromworking place to working place. A main frame 11 is suitably mounted onthe crawler track mechanisms 1t) and extends rearwardly therefrom asubstantial distance, as shown in FIGURE 2. The rearward. overhangingportion of the frame l1 is dropped a certain amount to accommodate aconveyor mechanism to extend along the main frame at a convenient heightfor efficient operation in places of limited head room.

The conveyor mechanism 12 may be a laterally liexible center strandchain and flight type of conveyor, such as is shown and described in theUnited States Patents Nos. 2,197,169; 2,388,885 and 2,642,982. Theconveyor iS suitably carried on the frame 11 and extends from a positionin advance of the forward end thereof adjacent the ground rearwardlyalong said main frame in an inclined path and beyond the rear end ofsaid main frame in a generally horizontal plane to overhang a shuttlecar or other device being loaded. The conveyor mechanism 12, as hereinshown includes three interconnected trough shaped Sections 13, 14 and1.5. The forward section 13 forms a material receiving and inclinedelevating section and may be tixedly mounted upon the main frame 11.Opposite forward wall portions 16 and 17 of the forward section 13 areinclined outwardly toward the sides of the machine and with an upwardlyextending forward inclined forward wall 18 define a hopper for receivingthe material dumped thereonto. The center section 14 of the conveyormechanism 12 is joined to the rearward end of the forward scction 13through pivotal mounting means 19. of the center section 14 about ahorizontal axis with respect to the forward section 13. The rearward endof the center section 14 is connected to the forward end of the rearwardsection for articulated movement therebetween about a vertical axis. Ahydraulic cylinder 2t) is mounted on the rearward end of the frame l1 toupstand therefrom and serves to adjustably support the center section 14and the rearward `section 15 of the conveyor mechanism 12. Thus it maybe seen that when the hydranlic cylinder 20 is extended the rearwardsection 15 of the conveyor mechanism 12 are pivoted upwardly about thehorizontal axis of pivotal mounting means 19, and when the hydrauliccylinder 20 iS retracted the-se sections 14 and 1.5 are pivoteddownwardly about the same axis. The hydraulic cylinder 20 permitsvertical adjustment of the rearward end of the conveyor mechanism 12relative to a shuttle car or other conveyor system for efiicienttransfer of any load of material from the conveyor mechanism 12.Hydraulic cylinders 21 are provided for adjustably maintaining therearward section 15 in any angled position relative to the centersection 14 in a horizontal plane. The head end of each of the hydrauliccylinders 21 is pivotally connected to a bracket 22 carried on thesidewalls of the center section 14. The rod end of each of the hydrauliccylinders 21 is pivotally connected to the sidewalls of the rearwardsection 15 through pivotal mounting means 23. Thus, it may be seen whenone of the hydraulic cylinders 21 is extended, the rearward section 15of the conveyor mechanism 12 is caused to pivot relative to the centersection .t4 in a horilivotal mounting means 19 permit pivotal movement ithe center section 14 and 30, the underside zontal plane, this pivotingcausing retraction of the opposite hydraulic cylinder 21.

The conveyor mechanism 12 further comprises a center strand endlesschain 24 carrying a plurality of flights 25 in spaced apart relationshipwith respect to each other throughout the entire length of the chain 24and connected thereto for movement about horizontal and vertical axes ina well known manner. The chain 24 extends over a suitable sprocket (notshown) rotatably earried at the rearward end of the rearward section 15,and below the rearward section 15, the center section 14 and the forwardsection 13 to the forward end of the forward section 13. At the `forwardend of the conveyor mechanism 12, the chain 24 is passed about asuitable idler (not shown) and further extends from the idler along theupper surface of the bottom walls of the forward section 13, the centersection 14 and the rearward section 15 of the conveyor mechanism 12. Thechain 24 of the conveyor mechanism 12 is driven by a suitable electricmotor 26 through gearing 27, shaft 28 and speed reducer 29. The outputshaft of the speed reducer 29 is drivingly connected to the sprocket(not shown) for the chain 24. The electric motor 26 and the power traintherefrom to the chain 24 `are carried on one side of the rearwardsection 15 of the conveyor mechanism 12.

Turning next to the means for loading the conveyor mechanism 12, a boom30 is provided and formed in duplicate portions disposed on each side ofthe machine, the portions being interconnected at the forward endthereof by a cross-member 31. Each portion of the boom 30 is somewhatL-shaped with the relatively long leg thereof extending generallyhorizontally and with the relatively short leg thereof dependingdownwardly from the horizontal leg. The rearward end of each portion ofthe boom 30 is pivotally connected to a slide member 32. As may be seenin FIGURES 3 and 4 each slide member 32 is formed to have an H-shapedcenter section `and a pair of flanges, one formed to opstand from the H-Shaped section and one formed to depend therefrom. The rearward end ofeach portion of the boom 30 is pivotally connected to the upstandingllange of one of the slide members 32 by means of a pin 33. The H-shaped section of each slide member 32 engages a pair of opposed rails34 and 35. Each pair of rails 34 and 35 is secured to the frame 11 onone side of the machine by a plurality of bolts such as bolt 36 shown inFIGURE 4. The depending flange of each slide member 32 is connected witha chain 37 between one pair of the links thereof. Each chain 37 passesin opposite directions from the depending flange about a drive sprocket38 and an idler 39. The ends of the chain 37 are interconnected by asuitable turnbuckle or coupling 40. Each sprocket 38 is rotativelymounted on one side of the frame 11 toward the rear thereof and eachidler 39 is rotatively mounted on one side of the frame 11 toward thefront thereof.

Each portion of the boom 30 is slidably supported at the forward end ofthe machine by an individual cylinder 41. Each cylinder 41 is carried onone side of the frame 11 at the forward end thereof and immediatelybelow one portion of the boom 30. The piston rod of each cylinder 41 isprovided with a shoe 42 pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin43. Each shoe 42 is positioned in cooperation with the underside of oneportion of the boom of each portion of the boom 30 having a railconfiguration conforming to the shape of the shoes 42.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that when the `sprocket 38is rotated clock-wise as viewed in the drawings, the chain 37 will bemoved to in turn move the slide member 32, which in turn will cause `theboom 30 to be moved forwardly, for example, from a position such asshown in FIGURE 2 to a position such as shown in FIGURE 3. If thesprocket 38 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction the boom 30 ismoved rearwardly relative to the machine. It may further be seen thatwhen the hydraulic cylinders 41 are extended, the forward end of theboom 30 is pivoted upwardly about the axis of pins 33 and when thehydraulic cylinders 41 are retracted the forward end of the boom islowered. The means for operating the sprockets 38 and the hydrauliccylinders 41 will be described below.

Turning next to a detailed description of the bucket arrangement for therst embodiment of the present invention, the bucket 45 comprises a pairof spaced-apart sidewalls 46 interconnected by a bottom wall 47 and aback wall 48. The forward marginal edge of the bottom wall 47 isprovided with suitable digging teeth. Each side wall 46 of the bucket 45is provided with a member 49 having a rearwardly extending ear or flange50 and an outwardly extending stop member 51. The bucket 45 is pivotallycarried on depending leg portions 44 of the boom 30 by means of a pairof pins 52, each pin 52 being carried by one of the depending legportions of the `boom 30 and iournalled through one of the ears 50 ofthe members 49. The axis of pivoting of the bucket 45 about the pins 52is such that when the bucket 45 is pivoted completely counter-clockwiseas viewed in the drawings, the bucket 45 is moved into the forwardsection 13 of the conveyor mechanism 12 with the upper portions of therear wall 4S and the side walls 46 positioned in the hopper defined bythe side walls 16 and 17 and the forward wall 18 of the forward section13 of the conveyor mechanism 12 as may easily be seen in FIGURE 6.

To pivot the bucket 45 to its various operative positions, a bell crank53, a hydraulic cylinder 54, a lever 55 and a hydraulic cylinder 56 areprovided for each side arm of the boom 30 and each side of the bucket45. Since these elements are formed in duplicate only those of one sidearm of the boom and one side of the bucket 45 are here described. Thebell crank 53 is pivotally carried on the member 49 by a pin 57. Thepivot axis of the pin 57 is located on the member 49 so that one leg orlever arm of the bell crank will engage ethe underside of the stopmember 51 when the bell crank 53 is pivoted counterclockwise as viewedin FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The other leg or lever arm of the bellcrank 53 is pivotally connected to the rod end of the hydraulic cylinder54 by a pin 58. The head end of the hydraulic cylinder 54 is pivotallyconnected to one end of the lever 55 by a pin 59, and the other end ofthe lever 55 is pivotally carried on the horizontal portion of the boom30 by a pin 60. The head end of the hydraulic cylinder 56 is pivotallyconnected to the lever 55 intermediate the ends thereof by a pin 61, andthe rod end of the hydraulic cylinder 56 is pivotally connected to thehorizontal portion of the boom 30 by a pin 62 located thereon forwardlyof the pin 60. The hydraulic cylinders 54 and 56 are of such a size, andthe lever 55 and the bell crank 53 are of such a length, that when thehydraulic cylinder 56 is substantially completely retracted and thehydraulic cylinder 54 is substantially completely extended, the bucket45 is positioned for digging at the ground level of the base of thecrawler tractor mechanism such as shown in FIGURE 2. These elements arefurther so formed and positioned that when the hydraulic cylinder 54 isretracted, the one lever arm bell crank 53 will engage the stop member51 to pivot the bucket 45 rearwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 2to that shown in FIG- URE 3, and if the hydraulic cylinder 56 is thenextended, the lever 55 will be moved counter-clockwise as viewed in thedrawings to move the hydraulic cylinder 54 and the bucket 45 through thebell crank 53 and the stop member 51 from a position such as shown inFIGURE 3 to that shown in FIGURE 6 `with `the stop means 51 engaging theother lever arm of the bell crank 53. Ylt may be seen that when thebucket is pivoted rearwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to thatshown in FIGURE 3, the hydraulic cylinder 54 will act through arelatively long moment arm to exert an initially relatively powerfullifting or breakout force on the bucket 45, and since thereafter in thefurther retraction of the hydraulic cylinder 54 the moment arm isdecreased, the pivoting of the bucket 45 will occur at increasingspeeds.

In the second embodiment of the means for pivoting the bucket 45 asillustrated in FIGURE 9, members identical to those of the firstembodiment are designated by the same numerals. As shown in FIGURE 9,the bucket 45 is pivotally carried on the depending portions of the boom30 by pins 52 and members 49. Since the bucket pivoting arrangement isformed in duplicate for each portion of the boom 30 and on each side ofthe bucket 4S, again, only those members on one side thereof Will bedescribed. The bell crank 53 is pivotally carried on the member 49 by apin 57. One leg or lever arm of the bell crank 53 is positioned toengage the stop 51 as in the previously described embodiment. The otherlever arm 65 of the bell crank 53 which is relatively longer than thelirst mentioned lever arm or leg is pivotally connected to a link 66 bya pin 67. The other end of the link 66 is pivotally connected to one endof a lever 68 by a pin 69. The other end of the lever 68 is pivotallyconnected to the rod end of the hydraulic cylinder 54 by a pin 7l).'I'lie head end of lthe hydraulic cylinder 54 is pivotally connected toa lever 71 intermediate its ends by a pin 72. One end of the lever 71 ispivotally connected to the lever 68 intermediate the ends thereof by apin 73. The other end of the lever 71 is pivotally carried on oneportion of the boom 30 by a pin 60. The head end of the hydrauliccylinder 56 `is pivotally connected to the lever 71 by a pin 61 which islocated on the lever 71 between the pins 60 and 72. The rod end of thehydraulic cylinder 56 is pivotally carried on one portion of the boom 30by a pin 62 which is located on that portion of the boom 39 forwardly ofthe pin 60.

The various described members of the second embodiment of the bucketpivoting arrangement are so formed and positioned that when thehydraulic cylinders 54 and 56 are substantially completely retracted,the bucket 4S is positioned in the digging position at ground level asshown in FIGURE 9. If the .hydraulic cylinder 54 is then extended, thelever 68 will be pivoted in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 9to pivot the bell crank 53 through the link 66 in a counter-clockwisedirection from the position shown in FIGURE 9 to one wherein the bucketis pivotally positioned such as shown, for example, in FIGURE 3. If thehydraulic cylinder 56 is then extended, the lever 71 will be pivoted ina counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 9 to further pivot thebucket v45 through the lever 68, the link 66, and the bell crank 53, tofthe dump posi-tion such as shown, for example, in FIGURE 6. The secondembodiment of the bucket pivoting arrangement differs from the rst inthat the large end of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder 54 is used inthe break-out and initial dumping action of the bucket 45, and furtherin that the force and speed of the bucket in pivoting may be varied bydifferent relative locations of the pins 69, 73 and 70 on the lever 68.

Turning next to the means for operating the various elements of themachine, the crawler mechanism l0, the hydraulic cylinders 20 and 21 ofthe conveyor mechanism 12, and the hydraulic cylinders 4l, 54 and 56 areoperated by any suitable power means (not shown). The main motor 75which may be seen i-n FIGURE 1 supplies power for the sprockets 38. Themotor 75 is mounted upon the frame 11 and its output shaft deliverspower to a transmission 76. The output of the transmission 16 sconnected in parallel -to a speed-reducer 77 land to the hydraulic tluidpump 78 shown in FIGURE 8. Two clutches 79 and 80 are associated withthe output shaft of the speed-reducer 77 and will drive the output shaftin either direction depending upon which clutch is operated. The outputshaft or" `the speed-reducer 77 is further connected to a worm-typespeed reducer 8l. The speed rcducer 8l, which as shown in FIGURES l and2 is 7 mounted on the frame 11 with its output shaft extendingtransversely of the machine and connected in driving relationship to thesprockets 38 on each side of the machine. It may thus be seen that whenone of the `clutches 79 or 80 `is energized, the speed reducer 81 isoperated to drive the sprockets 38 in one direction; and when the otherof the clutches 79 or 80 is operated, the speed reducer 81 is operatedto drive the sprockets 38 in an opposite direction.

Referring to FIGURES 3 land 8, live control assemblies 83, 84, 85, 86and 87 are employed. The first assembly 83 is shown in FIGURE 8 as ahydraulic valve. Asscmbly 84 is another hydraulic valve similar to valve83 and is provided for operation of the hydraulic cylinders 56. Thehydraulic valve 84 is connected by suitable conduits to a pressuresource (not shown), `a reservoir (not shown), and to the hydrauliccylinders 56. The assembly 85 is also a hydraulic control valve and isprovided for operation of the hydraulic cylinders 54. The hydrauliccontrol valve 85 is connected by suitable conduits to a hydraulic lluidpump and reservoir (not shown), and to the hydraulic cylinders 54. Thecontrol assemblies 86 and 87 are provided for controlling the operationof the crawler track mechanism 10. These control assemblies 86 and 87may be connected by any suitable means (not shown) to the drivingelements of the crawler track mechanism 10. Any suitable means known inthe art (not shown) may be provided for controlling the operation of thehydraulic cylinders 20, 21 and 41.

As shown in FIGURE 8, the low pressure side ofthe hydraulic uid pump 78is connected to the reservoir 88 by conduit 90. The high pressure sideof the hydraulic fluid pump 78 is connected to passageway 91 in valve 83by conduit 92. The valve spool 93 of valve 83 is provided with threeannular groove-s 94, 95 and 96 separated by two annular lands 97 and 98and is biased to the neutral position shown in FIGURE 8 by the springassembly 99. In `addition to the passageway 91, the valve body isprovided with two annular grooves and 101 respectively connected to theconduits 102 and 103, a passageway 104 connected to a conduit 105, and acheck valve 106 formed in passageway 91 between the connection ofconduit 92 thereto and an annular groove 107. The check valve 106 willpermit hydraulic fluid flow from passageway 91 to annular groove 107,but will prevent any hydraulic tluid flow in the reverse direction. Whenthe valve 83 is in the neutral position shown in FIGURE 8, hydraulic[luid from conduit 92 will how through passageway 91 `about the annulargroove 96 of the valve spool 93, through passageway 104 to conduit 105.From conduit 105 the hydraulic tluid will ow through conduits 108 and109 to reservoir 88. In the neutral position, land 97 of the valve spool93 will seal hydraulic huid from the annular grooves 100 and 101 of thevalve body, and hydraulic lluid conduits 102 and 103 are vented to thereservoir 88 through annular grooves 100 and 101 of the valve body,annular grooves 94 and 95 of the valve spool 93, and passageway 104 toand through conduits 105, 108 and 109. When the valve spool 93 is movedinwardly of the valve body, land 98 of the valve spool 93 Will blockpassageway 91 from passageway 104. High pressure hydraulic tluid willthen ow through the check valve 106, annular groove 107 of the valvebody, annular groove 94 of the valve spool 93, `annular groove 100 ofthe valve body and through conduit 102. Conduit 103 will remain ventedto the reservoir 88. When the valve spool 93 is moved outwardly of thevalve body, passageway 91 is again blocked from fluid communication withpassageway 104 iby a land on the inner end of the valve `spool 93. Highpressure hydraulic lluid will then flow from passage- Way 91 throughcheck valve 106, through annular groove 107 of the valve body, through`annular groove 95 of the valve spool 93, through annular groove 101 ofthe valve body and through. conduit 103. The conduit 102 will be ventedover the circuit previously described. Thus, it may be seen that whenvalve spool 93 is in the u cylinder 8 neutral position fluid flowsthrough the valve 83 to reservoir 88 and conduits 102 and 103 arevented. When spool 93 is moved in and out respectively, high pressurefluid flows to conduit 102 while conduit 103 is vented; and lluid flowsto conduit 103 and conduit 102 is vented.

Conduit 102. is connected to conduit 110 which is connected to acylinder 111. Conduit 110 is connected to a valve 112. Cylinder 111 isconnected by a lever 113 to clutch 79 ol speed reducer 77 so that whenthe cylinder 111 is extended, clutch '79 is operated. Valve 112 has aspool spring-biased to block conduit 110 from the outlet port connectedto conduit 114. Conduit 114 also connects to conduit 109. Valve 112 iscarried on the frame 11 and is positioned at the forward end of thechain 37 with the valve spool aligned so the slide member 32, carryingthe rear end of the boom 30, will engage the spool of the valve 112 whenthe slide member 32 is moved to its forwardmost position by the chain37. The slide member 32 will then operate the valve 112 to provide freefluid flow from conduit 110 to conduit 114.

Similarly to conduit 102, conduit 103 is connected in parallel to acylinder 115 and a valve 116. The cylinder 115 is connected to operatethe clutch 80 of the speed reducer 77 through a lever arrangement 117.The outlet port of the valve 116, which is identical in construction tovalve 112, is connected to conduit by means of conduit 118. The valve116 is on one side of the machine at a position where the valve spoolthereof can interconnect conduits 103 and 118 When the slide member 32is moved to its rearwardmost position by the chain 37. The system forthe boom 30 further includes a pressure relief valve 1.19 which isconnected between conduits 92 and 108 and which will operate to by-passHuid from the high pressure side of the pump 78 to the reservoir 88whenever the pressure in conduit 92 exceeds a certain predeterminedamount.

Considering the operation of thc hydraulic system for the boom 30 andassuming the spool 93 is moved inwardly of the body of valve 83, thehigh pressure fluid in conduit 102 will operate cylinder 111 which inturn operates clutch 79 of speed `reducer 77. This causes the speedreducer 77 to rotate sprockets 38 in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIGURE 8. This moves the chain 37 which in turn moves the slide members32 forwardly. As the slide members 32 move forwardly, the boom 30 willbe carried forwardly as previously described, and if the valve spo-ol 93is held inwardly until the slide member 32 reaches its forwardmostposition, the valve 112 will be operated to permit the high pressurefluid in conduit to ow through conduits 11.4 and 109 to the reservoir88. This venting of huid from conduit 110 will permit the clutch 79 tobe disengaged thereby stopping the drive to the sprockets 38. If thevalve spool 93 is moved outwardly of the valve body of the valve 83, thehigh pressure hydraulic lluid then directed through conduit 103 willoperate the hydraulic cylinder 115 to in turn cause an operation of theclutch 80 which will in turn cause power to be delivered to thesprockets 38 to rotate the sprockets 38 in a counter-clockwise directionas viewed in FIGURE 8 to move the boom rearwardly relative to themachine. When the slide member 32 and the boom 30 reach theirrearwardmost position, the slide member 32 will operate the hydraulicvalve 116 to vent high pressure hydraulic fluid from the hydraulicthrough conduits 118, 105, 108 and 109 to the reservoir 88. With thehigh pressure hydraulic fluid vented from hydraulic cylinder 115, clutch80 will be disengaged and the drive to the sprockets 38 will bedisconnected. It is, of course, not necessary that the slide member 32be moved only from one extreme position to the other since by operatingthe valve spool 93 of the valve 83 to the neutral position any highpressure hydraulic fluid in the conduits 102 and 103 is vented to thereservoir 88 to thereby cause disengagement of either 9 of the clutches79 or 80 and stopping the boom 3G in any selected intermediate position.

Turning next to a brief description of the operation of the instantinvention in order that the construction thereof may be more readilyunderstood, reference is again made to FIGURES 2, 3, 6, 7 and 9 of thedrawings. With the hydraulic cylinders 54 and 56 of either embodiment ofthe present invention operated so that the bucket 45 is positioned suchas shown in FIGURE 2, the crawler track mechanism 10 may be operated toposition the bucket 45 immediately before a pile of material to berem-oved. With the crawler track mechanism then stopped, and with theconveyor mechanism 12 then operating and having its rearward enddispos-:d over a shuttle car or some other conveyor means, the hydraulicsystem previously described may be operated to slide the boom forward.The bucket 45 and the digging teeth or edge thereof Will then beprojected into the pile of material to be removed (FiGURE 7). Becauseone leg of the bell crank 53 engages the underside of the stop S1, thebucket in moving forwardly may easily slide over any obstructions atground lever. When the bucket 45 is substantially filled with thematerial to be removed, the hydraulic cylinders 54 are operated to causethe loaded bucket 45 to break away the material in the bucket 45 fromthat remaining in the pile and further ll the bucket in a scoopingaction. Operation of the hydraulic cylinders 56 will then cause the loadin the bucket to be dumped therefrom over the rear Wall 48 of the bucket45 onto the forward section 13 of the conveyor mechanism 12. Theconveyor mechanism 12 will then carry that material rearwardly of themachine. As the pile immediately in front of the machine is removed, theboom 30 may be gradually moved forwardly without moving the machine isworking the face of the pile such 7. Only when the face of the beyondthe forwardmost reach of bucket 45 need the crawler track be operated tomove thc machine in close proximity to the pile. The described diggingoperations need not be performed only at the ground level of themachine. By suitable extensions of the hydraulic cylinders 41, thebucket 45 may be caused to dig at higher levels.

1n the modilication of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES l to 15inclusive, the same part numbers will be applied to the same parts as inthe first and second forms of the invention.

In FIGURES and l1, the main frame 11 is shown as being mounted on rubbertire mounted traction wheels 25 instead of the continuous crawler trackmechanisms 10. The traction wheels 125 serve to propel the machine alongthe ground and to crowd the digger bucket 45 into the material to beloaded and are driven in a manner similar to that shown and described inmy application Serial No. 9,501, filed February 18, 1960 `and entitledRock Loading Machine. The four traction wheels and drive to saidtraction wheels, therefore, need not herein be shown lor describedfurther.

The bucket 45 is directly connected to the main frame 11 for verticaland angular movement with respect thereto, to be crowded into the minedmaterial by movement of said main frame toward the mined material by thetractive effort of the traction wheels 125, on a boom structure 126. Theboom structure 126 includes boom arms 127 extending along each side ofthe forward wall portions 1:6 and 17 of the conveyor mechanism 12 andbeyond the forward ends thereof and connected together at their forwardends by a cross tube 129. The boom arms 127 are pivotally mounted attheir rear end-s on the outsides of the wall portions 16 and 17 onsupport structures 130, on pivot pins 131 mounted at their outer ends onblocks 133, welded or otherwise secured `to said support structures. Thepivot pins 131 also form pivotal mountings for actuating levers 135 forthe bucket 45.

as shown in FIGURE pile has been moved the boom 30 and the mechanism 10again itself until the bucket n Each boom arm 127 is adjustablysupported adjacent the forward end of the conveyor mechanism 12 on ahydraulic cylinder 136 trunnioned adjacent its lower end in a support137 extending laterally from the main frame 11, on trunnion pins 139.The hydraulic cylinder 137 has a piston rod 140 extensible therefrom,shown in FIGURE l2 as being threaded through a transverse pin 141pivotally mounted at its ends in parallel spaced arm portions 143 and144 of the boom arm 127. The inner arm portion 144 of the `boom arm 127has a depending leg portion 145 extending inwardly of the hydrauliccylinder 136 in a downward direction for a portion of the length of saidhydraulic cylinder and having a bearing plate 146 on the side thereofadjacent the conveyor mechanism 12, having slidable bearing engagementwith a bearing plate 147 extending vertically of the conveyor mechanism12 and shown in FIGURE l2 as being secured thereto. The bearing plates146 and 147 have sliding contact with each other and serve to limitlateral displacement of the 'boom structure 126 during operation of thedigger bucket 45 and to provide slidable engaging surfaces for the boomstructure during vertical adjustment thereof by operation of thehydraulic cylinders 136.

The digger bucket 45 is transversely pivoted to the forward end portionof the boom structure 126 on laterally spaced ears 149 extendingrearwardly from the side walls 46 of said digger bucket. As shown inFIGURE 13, the ears 149 are pivotally mounted on transverse pivot pins150 on bearings 151. Each pivot pin 150 is mounted at one end on the armportion 127 of the boom structure 126 and at its opposite end on a lug153 extending upwardly from the tube 129 inwardly of the boom armportion 127 and welded or otherwise secured tothe transverse tube 129.Nuts and washers 154 are threaded on opposite ends of the pivot pin 15)to retain said pin in position.

A bell crank 155, similar to the bei] crank 53 is pivotally mounted oneach side wall 46 of the `bucket 45 on a pivot pin .157. The bell crank155 `has a depending arm or leg having an engaging end portion 158engagcable with the stop member 51 extending outwardly from the sidewall 46 of the bucket 45 when the bell crank is pivoted in `a counterclockwise direction to pivot the fbucket 45 upwardly about the axis ofthe pivot pin 150. It ywill be noted from FIGURE l() that the operativeconnection from the `hell crank 155 to the bucket 45 is such that thebucket may pivot upwardly relative to the engaging face 158 when beingcrowded into the loose material during the loading operation, toaccommodate the bucket to ride along uneven ground and over high spotson the ground free from the bell crank 155.

The bell crank 155 also has an upwardly extending leg or lever arm 159having :a clevis 160 of an adjustable link 161, pivotaily connected toits upper end on a pivot pin 162 extending through said clevis and leverarm. The opposite end of the link 161 has a clevi-s 163 threaded thereonand extending along opposite sides of the actuating lever 135 andpivotally connected therewith on a ball 164 mounted on a pivot pin 165mounted in said clevis at its ends (FIGURES l() and 15).

The actuating lever 135 is actuated by a Ahydraulic cylinder 166 havinga piston rod 167 exten-sible therefrom. The hydraulic cylinder 166 has aconnector 16S extending from the head end thereof between the armportions 143 and 144 of the boom arm 127 and pivotally connected theretoon a pivot pin 169.

The piston rod 167 extends between connector plates 170 welded orotherwise secured to opposite sides of the actuator lever 135intermediate the ends thereof, and is pivotally connected to saidactuator plates by pivot pin 171.

In describing the operation of the mechanism of FIG- URES l0 and ll, themechanism on only one side of the machine will herein be referred to,for the purpose of simplicity. 1n these Figures, the axis of connection1 1 of the link 161 to the actuator 135 is designated by A. The axis ofthe pivot pin 157 is designated by B and the axis of connection of theear 149 to the boom 127 on the pivot pin 150 is designated by C. Theaxis of connection of the link 161 to the lever arm 159 of the bellcrank155 is designated by D.

As iluid under pressure is admitted to the head end of the cylinder 166to extend the piston rod 167 therefrom, the bellcrank 155 will initiallypivot upwardly about axis B and engage the engaging end portion 158 ofsaid bellcrank 155 with the stop 51 and then pivot the bucket 45upwardly. During initial upward pivotal movement of the bucket 45, themoment arm supplying the force to raise the bucket and tear the bucketfrom rock piled thereon will be from D to C, the weight ofthe bucket androck thereon will hold the link 161 and lever arm 159 in angularlydisposed relation with respect to each other. The bellcrank 155, stop 51and bucket 46 will then move upwardly as a unit. As the pull on thelever arm 159 causes 161 and 159 to approach a straightened condition,however, 161 and 159 will then act as a pulling link and the bucket willcontinue its upward movement about point C. The moment arm will then bereduced to the distance from B to C. As the bucket is pivoted upwardlyabout the shorter moment arm the lever arm 159 will engage a cammingface 164 on the boom arm 127, preventing the link 161 `and lever arm 159from straightening out or moving past a dead center position. The bucket45 will then pivot relatively to the bellcrank 155 and the stop 5l willmove away from the engaging end portion 153 of said bellcrank.

During movement of the bucket from the broken line position shown inFIGURE l1 to the solid line discharge position shown, the speed oftravel of the bucket moving about the shortened moment arm willmaterially increase and the bucket will move upwardly to its dischargeposition at a relatively high rate of speed until the stop 51 engagesthe lever arm 159 of the bellcrank 1557 stopping movement of the bucketand jarring the loose material therein to fall onto the conveyor 24.

During lowering of the bucket, fluid under pressure is admitted to thepiston rod end of the cylinder 166, pivoting the bucket in a downwarddirection about the moment arm D-C. llfhe link 161 and lever arm 159will then move angularly with respect to each other until gravity takesover and the stop 51. comes into engagement with the engaging endportion 153 of the bellcrank 155. Continued lowering movement of thebucket into the gathering position shown in FIGURE will then be underthe control of the cylinder 166 and piston rod 167.

It will `also be noted that tbe stop 51, while accommodating relativelyfree upward movement of the digger bucket during the operation ofcrowding said digger bucket in the material being loaded, may also bepositively engaged with the arm 159 of the bell crank 155 as the diggerbucket is moved to its discharge position and serves to jar moistmaterial from the digger bucket, the link 161 and lever arm 159 holdingthe digger bucket in its discharge position until the piston rod 167 isretractihly moved with respect to the hydraulic cylinder 166, to movethe digger bucket to a loading position.

The free connection between the bell crank 155 and the digger bucket 45,thus besides accommodating the digger bucket to freely ride along riseson the ground without affecting the operating mechanism for the bucket,also serves `as a stop for the digger bucket when in its dischargeposition and engages the arm 159 with a jarring action, to jar any`moist material in the bucket to flow downwardly therealong onto thereceiving end portion of the conveyor mechanism 12.

While I have herein shown and described various forms in which myinvention may be embodied, it should be understood that various othervariations and modifications in the invention may be attained withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of thc novel concepts thereof asdefined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a loading machine, a mobile frame, a conveyor extending along saidframe from a position adjacent the ground at the forward end thereof andfixed from vertical movement with respect to said frame at its forwardend, a boom transversely pivoted to said frame rearwardly of the forwardend thereof and extending in advance of said frame, hydraulic cylinderand piston means supporting the forward end of said boom on said frameand vertically adjusting said boom about its axis of pivotal connectionto said trame, a digger bucket transversely pivoted to the forward endof said boom and extending in advance thereof for slidable engagementwith the ground, a bellcrank pivotally connected to one side of saiddigger bucket intermediate its ends and having depending and upwardlyextending lever arms, a stop projecting outwardly from the side of saidbucket between said arms of said bellcrank for engagement therewith, apivoted actuating lever having two angularly extending arms, meanspivotally mounting said actuating lever on said frame at the end of onearm thereof, hydraulic cylinder and piston means pivotally connectedbetween said boom and said actuating lever adjacent the juncture of saidarms, whereby an upper of said arms extends generally along saidhydraulic cylinder and piston means, and linkage means connecting thefree end of the upper of said arms with the upwardly extending arm ofsaid bellcrank, to pivot said bellcrank to engage said stop and swingsaid bucket upwardly from a loading to a dumping position.

fl. A. loading machine in accordance with claim l, wherein the actuatinglever is pivoted to the frame coaxially with the axis of pivotalconnection of the boom to the frame and wherein the linkage means isextensible and retractible to vary the angular relation of the diggerbucket with respect to the ground.

3. ln a loading machine, a mobile frame, a conveyor extending along saidframe and having a forward receiving end at a Fixed elevation withrespect to the ground, a boom transversely pivoted to said framerearwardly of the forward end thereof and extending in advance of saidframe, a digger bucket transversely pivoted to the forward end of saidboom and depending from said boom into engagement with the ground, meansfor holding said boom in position and vertically adjustably moving saidboom with respect to the ground, a bellcrank transversely pivoted to oneside of said digger bucket for movement about an axis spaced beneath andforwardly of the axis of pivotal connection of said digger bucket tosaid boom when seid digger bucket is in engagement with the ground, astop projecting laterally of said digger bucket, said bellcrank having alever arm depending from its axis of connection to said digger bucketand extending underneath said stop when said digger bucket is inengagement with the ground and having a second upright lever armextending upwardly of the axis of connection of said bellcrank to saiddigger bucket, an actuating lever transversely pivoted to said frame andextending upwardly of its axis of pivotal connection to said frame, anextensible and retractible operating member transversely pivoted to saidboom and pivot-ally connected with said actuating lever intermediate theends of said actuating lever, a rigid tink, a transverse pivot pinconnecting one end of said link to the free end of said actuating lever,a second transverse pivot pin connecting the opposite end of said linkwith the upright arm of said bcllcrank, the relationship between theaxis of connection of said bucket to seid boom. said bellcrank to saidbucket and the axes of said pivot pins being such that when said bucketis in depending relation with respect to said boom, the weight of saidbucket and the rock loaded thereon will engage said stop with saiddepending arm of said bellcrank and effect initial upward movement ofsaid bucket about a lever :um equal to the distance between the axis olconnection of said bucket to said boom and the axis of said pivot pinconnecting said link to the upright arm of said bellcrank, and as saidbucket moves toward a discharge position, said link and the upright armof said bellcrank will move into aligned relation with each other andpivot said bucket to a discharge position about a shorter moment armequal to the distance between the axis of connection of said bucket tosaid boom and said bellcrank to said bucket and move said stop away fromsaid depending lever arm of said bucket.

4. A loading machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein said boom has acamming face thereon engageable with said upright arm of said bellcrankand retaining said link and upright arm from moving past dead centerpositions with respect to each other as said bucket moves to itsdischarge position.

`5. In a loading machine, a mobile frame, a conveyor extending alongsaid frame and having a forward receiving end in fixed relation withrespect to said frame, a boom transversely pivoted to said framerearwardly of the forward end thereof and extending in advance of saidframe, means for retaining said boom in position and vertically movingsaid boom with respect to said frame, a digger bucket transverselypivoted to the forward end of said boom and extending in advance thereoffor slidable engagement with the ground, an extensible and retractibleoperating member pivotally connected to said boom, an actuating levertransversely pivoted to said frame, an operative connection between saidoperating member and said actuating lever, linkage means connecting thefree end of said actuating lever with said digger `bucket to effectupward movement of said digger bucket from a digging to a dischargeposition, bearing plates extending vertically along the outer sides ofsaid conveyor, other bearing plates extending vertically along the innersides of said boom and having slidable engagement with said rstmentioned bearing plates to retain said boom from lateral shiftingmovement in all positions of elevation thereof with respect to theground.

6. A loading machine in accordance with claim 5, wherein the boomincludes two parallel spaced boom arms extending along opposite sides ofthe conveyor and connected together in advance of the forward end of theconveyor, wherein the boom arms are adjustably -Io oijneJpq uo spunplainte; .Iraqi zuaoeipe pazloddns inders and pistons operative to raiseand lower said boom arms about their axes of pivotal connection to saidframe, and wherein the bearing plates extending vertically along theinner sides of the boom, are mounted on the boom arms adjacent theforward ends thereof, and the bearing plates extending vertically alongopposite sides of the conveyor are adjacent the forward end of theconveyor.

7. In a loading machine, a mobile frame, a conveyor extending along saidframe and having a forward receiving end portion xed with respect tosaid frame, a boom transversely pivoted to said frame rearwardly of theforward end thereof and extending in advance of said frame, hydrauliccylinder and piston means supporting the forward end of said boom onsaid frame and vertically adjusting said boom about its axis of pivotalconnection to said frame, a digger bucket transversely pivoted to theforward end of said boom and extending in advance thereof for slidableengagement with the ground, a bellcrank pivotally connected `to one sideof said digger bucket intermediate its ends and having depending andupwardly extending lever arms, a stop projecting outwardly from the sideof said digger bucket between said arms of said bellcrank, an actuatinglever pivoted to said frame coaxial with the axis of pivotal connectionof said boom to said frame, said actuating lever having two angularlyextending arms extending vertically of the axis of said actuating leverto said frame, hydraulic cylinder and piston means pivotally connectedbetween said boom and said actuating lever adjacent the juncture of saidarms, whereby an upper of said arms extends generally along saidhydraulic cylinder and piston means, and a rigid link connecting thefree end of the upper of said arms with the upwardly extending arm ofsaid bellcrank for actuating said bellcrank upon operation of saidactuating lever to swing said bucket upwardly from a loading to adumping position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,739,624 Whamond Dec. 17, 1929 1,797,459 Whaley Mar. 24, 1931 1,814,067Whaley July 14, 1931 2,530,714 McDougall Nov. 21, 1950 2,619,243 BiedessNov. 25, 1952 2,714,459 Hay Aug. 2, 1955 2,768,499 Pilch Oct. 3G, 1956

3. IN A LOADING MACHINE, A MOBILE FRAME, A CONVEYOR EXTENDING ALONG SAIDFRAME AND HAVING A FORWARD RECEIVING END AT A FIXED ELEVATION WITHRESPECT TO THE GROUND, A BOOM TRANSVERSELY PIVOTED TO SAID FRAMEREARWARDLY OF THE FORWARD END THEREOF AND EXTENDING IN ADVANCE OF SAIDFRAME, A DIGGER BUCKET TRANSVERSELY PIVOTED TO THE FORWARD END OF SAIDBOOM AND DEPENDING FROM SAID BOOM INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GROUND, MEANSFOR HOLDING SAID BOOM IN POSITION AND VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLY MOVING SAIDBOOM WITH RESPECT TO THE GROUND, A BELLCRANK TRANSVERSELY PIVOTED TO ONESIDE OF SAID DIGGER BUCKET FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS SPACED BENEATH ANDFORWARDLY OF THE AXIS OF PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID DIGGER BUCKET TOSAID BOOM WHEN THE DIGGER BUCKET IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GROUNG, ASTOP PROJECTING LATERALLY OF SAID DIGGER BUCKET, SAID BELLCRANK HAVING ALEVER ARM DEPENDING FROM ITS AXIS OF CONNECTION TO SAID DIGGER BUCKETAND EXTENDING UNDERNEATH SAID STOP WHEN SAID DIGGER BUCKET IS INENGAGEMENT WITH THE GROUNG AND HAVING A SECOND UPRIGHT LEVER ARMEXTENDING UPWARDLY OF THE AXIS OF CONNECTION OF SAID BELLCRANK TO SAIDDIGGER BUCKET, AN ACTUATING LEVER TRANSVERSELY PIVOTED TO SAID FRAME ANDEXTENDING UPWARDLY OF ITS AXIS OF PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO SAID FRAME, ANEXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTIBLE OPERATING MEMBER TRANSVERSELY PIVOTED TO SAIDBOOM AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH SAID ACTUATING